Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority regarding the NSW East Coast severe weather from May 2025

This inquiry was Self-referred on 18 August 2025.

Terms of reference

That, pursuant to section 93(3)(b) of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 (the 'Act'), the Committee review the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority (the 'Authority') regarding the NSW East Coast severe weather from May 2025, with particular reference to:

a) The Authority's response to, and any changes or improvements to the operations of the Authority, the following recent disasters:

i) the severe weather caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred from 3 March 2025,

ii) the major electricity outages affecting Far West NSW from 17 October 2024,

iii) the catastrophic floods affecting the Central West region in 2022, and

iv) any other disasters that were subject to a Natural Disaster Declaration and in which the Authority exercised its functions.

b) The exercise of any planning powers under the Act in the affected region, including:

i) powers under Parts 6 to 7 of the Act following a Ministerial declaration under Part 5, particularly the power to compulsorily acquire land,

ii) land and housing buybacks and disposals,

iii) the effectiveness of housing resilience programs, and

iv) developments subject to a ministerial authorisation order under section 68 of the Act.

c) How the Authority and relevant agencies communicated to and engaged with affected communities in the delivery and design of reconstruction and preparedness efforts, including whether principles of community-led recovery and culturally appropriate emergency management were considered.

d) The effectiveness of any relevant preparedness and adaptation work by the Authority for the affected region before the disaster.

e) The application of any relevant funding under the Joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, including the implementation of any recommendations arising from the Colvin Review published in October 2024.

The Committee is required to report on the outcome of the review by May 2026.